Heroes

Get psyched for hero-palooza 2008!

Today, CNN executives announced the lineup for their second annual populist awards show, which will be hosted by Anderson Cooper from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and air on the cable news network's multiple platforms the night of Thanksgiving.

The event celebrates the achievements of "ordinary citizens accomplishing extraordinary deeds." The winners are determined in part by ordinary citizens with Internet access. The whole hero-fest jives with CNN's populist drift in recent years (see Dobbs, Lou; audience reaction meters on debate nights; CNN's iReport; etc).

More from the release after the jump:  read more »

Heroes creator Tim Kring is collaborating with literary critic and novelist Dale Peck on a sci-fi/alternative-history trilogy that was sold at auction to Crown yesterday for an advance said to be worth a staggering $3 million.

According to an industry source, the book is set in America, and runs from the 1960s to the near future. The protagonist is a man named Chandler Forrest whose participation in LSD experiments administered by the C.I.A. has given him superpowers.  read more »

The soundtrack for NBC's popular superhero drama, Heroes, will hit stores on March 18, bringing fans 18 songs from the show that mix the old (Bob Dylan and David Bowie -- the Bowie track is "Heroes," obvs!), with the new (Wilco, Panic! at the Disco, and Imogen Heap), according to The Hollywood Reporter. More notably, the disc will also include a track by '80s fuzz-rockers the Jesus and Mary Chain, which is the duo's first new studio recording in a decade, as well as four songs -- including the Heroes theme song -- written by former Prince collaborators Wendy & Lisa. And for the die-hards, who are currently lamenting the show's hiatus, "executive producer/director Allan Arkush has crafted five music video montage podcasts -- featuring Heroes footage set to select tracks from the album." But for those, they'll have to hit up the Zune online store (the exclusive free download spot) or MSN, where they will be streaming.

NBC is blaming the WGA's strike for the shelving of their Heroes spin-off, according to Variety. We have a feeling it has something to do with the crappy subplots and growing backlash, as well. As Newark Star-Ledger critic Alan Sepinwall’s blog put it, “Are we sure the writers of Heroes haven't already gone on strike?”

Variety reports:

Peacock wasn't talking Wednesday, but people familiar with the situation said NBC U entertainment co-chairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff didn't want to move forward with the project given the financial uncertainties of a possible WGA work stoppage.

Indeed, it's believed that all unproduced NBC production commitments are being re-evaluated in light of a likely strike.

"Heroes" also has been facing sophomore growing pains, losing some key staff members. Trying to take on the production of six more episodes of a hugely complicated, mythology-based skein might have proven to be too difficult, especially given the possibility that all production could halt soon.